Neck-yoke.



No. 770,735. PATENTED SEPT. 27, 1904. J. A. BYXBE & E. OALLEN.

NECK YOKE. APPLICATION FILED T15R11, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

8 l, W J

NITED STATES Patented September 27, 1904.

PATENT FFICE.

NEGK-YOKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 770,735, dated September 27, 1904.

Application filed February 11, 1904. Serial No. 193,187. (No model.)

To all whont it may concern:

Be it known that we, JASPER A. BYXBE and ELMER CALLEN, citizens of the United States, residing at Oswego, in the county of Labette and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Neck-Yoke, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices employed for coupling neck-yokes to draft-tongues and known as neck-yoke centers, and has for its object to simplify and improve the construction and produce a device of this character which may be adjusted to different. sizes of neck-yokes and tongues and form a flexible coupling means between the same.

WVith these and other objects in view, which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in certain novel features of construction, as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which corresponding parts are denoted by like designating characters, is illustrated the preferred form of the embodiment of the invention capable of carrying the same into practical operation, it being understood that the invention is not necessarily limited thereto, as Various changes in the shape, proportions, and general assemblage of the parts may be resorted to without departing from the principle of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and the right is therefore reserved of making all the changes and modifications which fairly fall within the scope of the invention and the claims made therefor.

1n the drawings thus employed, Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 is a front elevation, of the device applied. Fig. 3 is a side elevation with the tongue-engaging portion in section.

The neck-yoke 10 and draft-tongue 11 are of the usual form, the latter having the ordinary holdback lug or pin 12 depending therefrom.

The improved device comprises a clip in the form of a band 13 for enclasping the neckyoke 10, divided at one side at 14 and provided at this point with a clamping-bolt 15.

Depending from one side of the band and tangentially of the same is a stud 16, terminating in an annular flange or collar 17, the stud and its flange being preferably integral with the band.

The tongue-engaging portion comprises two opposing plates 18 19, having half-sockets 2O 21 for engaging opposite sides of its stud 16 above its flange 17 and with their adjacent faces diverging toward their lower portions and connected by suitable spaced rivets 22. The plates 18 19 are formed with transverse apertures 23 24, considerably larger than the tongue end 11, and between the converging portions of the plates a cushion of leather, rubber, or other suitable flexible material 25 is secured by some of the same rivets which unite the plates. The flexible cushion is thus thicker at its lower portion, where the greatest wear occurs, thereby increasing the wear-resisting quality of the device where the greatest friction occurs. By forming the cushionmember aperture smaller than the apertures in the plates 18 19 the tongue will not come in contact with and be worn by the metal plates, as will be obvious.

The tangential position of the clip 13 relative to the stud 16 and plates 18 19 is an important feature of of strain between the tongue and the neckyoke is in longitudinal alinement through the plates and stud, and lateral strains and abrupt angles between the parts thereby eliminated. The appearance of the device is also materially improved by this arrangement and the freedom of the action assured. The rearward plate 19 is provided with a hook 26 for engagement with the stop-pin 12- to prevent accidental displacement of the center in event of the breakage of any of the parts of the harness.

By this simple arrangement of parts it is obvious that a very compact, strong, and flexible coupling means is provided between the neck-yoke and tongue, which will readily yield to all the various movements and avoid cramping of the parts, and thus materially increase the comfort of the horses and prevent unequal strains upon their necks.

the invention, as the line The metal parts will preferably be of malleable iron and may be plated, japanned, or otherwise ornamented or protected.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim is 1. A neck-yoke center comprising a clip for clamping upon the neck-yoke and having a depending integral stud terminating in an annular flange, spaced plates having half-sockets for engagement with said stud and having means connecting the same in rotative position thereon, and a yieldable cushion sup ported between said plates and having a transverse aperture for receiving the draft-tongue.

2. A neck-yoke center comprising a clip for embracing the neck-yoke and divided on one side to provide means for clamping to the same, said clip having a depending stud terminating in an annular flange, and spaced plates apertured to receive the draft-tongue and provided with half sockets for rotative engagement with said stud whenthe plates are connected.

3. A neck-yoke center comprising a clip for clamping upon the neck-yoke and having a stud extending therefrom tangentially and terminating in an annular flange, spaced plates apertured to receive the draft-tongue and having half-sockets for rotative engagement with the stud when the plates are united, substantially as described.

4:. A neck-yoke center comprising a clip for clamping upon the neck-yoke and having a depending integral stud terminating in an annular flange, plates having half-sockets for rotative engagement with said stud and with their adjacent surfaces diverging and supporting a correspondingly-diverging flexible cushion between them, said plates and cushion apertured to receive the draft-tongue.

5. A neck-yoke center comprising a clip for clamping upon the neck-yoke and having a depending integral stud terminating in an annular flange, spaced plates transversely apertured and having half-sockets for engagement with said stud, and a cushion of flexible material supported between said plates and having an aperture smaller in diameter than the apertures in the plates.

6. A neck-yoke center comprising a clip for clamping upon the neck-yoke and having a depending integral stud terminating in an annular flange, spaced plates having half-sockets for engagement with said stud and having means connecting the same in rotative position thereon, a yieldable cushion supported between said plates and having a transverse aperture for receiving the draft-tongue, one of said spaced plates having a hook for engaging the holdback-pin of the draft-tongue.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto aflixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

JASPER A. BYXBE. ELMER CALLEN.

Witnesses:

M. M. TARKINGTON, GHARLEY OCONNELL. 

